Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has been included to the ODI team for the five-match series in Sri Lanka after improving from a stress fracture of the pelvis sustained during the 2015 World Cup. Off-spinning all-rounder Bilal Asif and batsman Mukhtar Ahmed along with and fast bowlers Ehsan Adil and Rahat Ali are the other inclusions in the 16-man squad.

Hammad Azam and fast bowlers Mohammad Sami and Junaid Khan are the players dropped from the squad that played the home series against Zimbabwe. Batsman Haris Sohail and fast bowler Wahab Riaz are unavailable because of injuries sustained during the Test-leg of the tour of Sri Lanka.

Chief selector Haroon Rashid said about Wahab Riaz,

“It is hoped that he recovers well in time to be available for the last two ODIs, and if he is declared fit by the medical panel, the selection committee might consider sending him over depending on the situation of the series after consulting the team management.”

Squad for the ODI series:

Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Mukhtar Ahmed, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (vice-captain and wicketkeeper) Yasir Shah, Bilal Asif, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Ehsan Adil, Rahat Ali